Spacing collar



Jan. 11?, 195@ R. N. GARDNER SPACING COLLAR Filed Jan. 12, 1946 Walk/i l7 dark/lief. oil

Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPACING COLLAR Ralph N. Gardner, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,787

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in spacing collars, and is more particularly concerned with the provision of a spacing collar of the type adapted to support a candle in rigid upright position within a candle holder. In mounting candles in candle holders, it has heretofore been diflicult to support the candles in upright position due to the fact that the diameters and shapes of the candles and candle holder recesses are not uniform.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacing collar which may be inexpensively formed of flexible sheet material, such as cardboard ,and embodying a plurality of radially disposed fingers adapted to be displaced into a candle holder recess upon insertion of a candle through the collar into said recess.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a spacing collar construction in which two or more collars may be employed, if necessary, to support a candle in an upright position within a candle holder recess.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a spacing collar embodying means, such as an upturned annular flange for supporting a lamp chimney against lateral displacement.

This invention embodies other novel features. details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a spacing collar embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the use of a spacing collar in holding a candle in upright position within a candle holder recess.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a modified form of this invention in which the collar portion is formed with an upturned annular flange to receive a lamp chimney.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified A form of spacing collar provided for use in supporting a candle in upright position within the candle holder recess, and for supporting a. lamp chimney.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 therein, a spacing collar is shown as comprising an annular collar portion 1 having a plurality of fingers 8 extending inwardly from the inner periphery thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the fingers 8 are preferably arranged in pairs, and the fingers of each pair are diametrically opposed for engagement against opposite sides of a candle in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. Each finger 8 is also preferably formed relatively narrow in width and with the sides in parallel relation to prevent crimping of the material when the spacing collar is employed to hold a candle. The spacing collars are preferably formed of flat sheet material, such as cardboard, in order that the fingers 8 may be bent downwardly into a candle holder recess during mounting of the candle therein.

In the use of a spacing collar of the type described, the collar portion 1 is first placed upon the upper surface 9 of a candle holder l l. A candle I2 is then inserted through the collar portion 1 into the recess I3 provided in the candle holder. During mounting of the candle l 2, it will be noted that the fingers 8 will be moved downwardly and inwardly between the wall of the recess l3 and the sides of the candle to maintain the candle in an upright position within the recess. single spacing collar does not take up the clearance between the candle and the wall of the recess, two or more spacing collars may be mounted upon the upper surface 9 of the candle holder to receive the candle.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of spacing collar comprising a collar portion I6, inwardly projecting fingers l1, and an upturned annular flange l8. In this form of the invention, the collar portion is formed relatively large in diameter and provided with the upturned flange I8 to receive the base of a lamp chimney l9. This form of the invention is otherwise similar to the other form heretofore described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

While this invention has been shown in but two forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

An article for use in supporting a candle in rigid upright position within a candle holder compris ing, a flat disc of cardboard having a circular outer periphery, four angularly spaced fingers formed integral with said disc and extending inwardly toward and terminating adjacent the center of said disc, said disc having an arcuate in ner peripheral edge interrupted at spaced intervals by the base portions of said fingers, the radius of the arcuate inner peripheral edge of said disc being substantially equal to the radius of a candle holder socket, said fingers being bendable downwardly and outwardly against the wall of a candle holder socket during insertion of a candle through said disc and into a, candle holder socket where- The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Stelzner Mar. 11, 1890 Hinman et a1 July 6, 1897 Landis Dec. 12, 1922 Bearse Nov. 1, 1927 Pekar Apr. 25, 1933 

